Coastal House Vintage owner Robin Kee | photo provided

A Gulfport-based vintage and handmade goods shop is preparing to open a larger, expanded location in St. Pete.

Coastal House Vintage will open Wednesday, April 29th at 2820 1st Avenue North in the Grand Central District, growing from roughly 500 square feet to about 1,700 square feet in a 1926-built home that has since been converted for commercial use.

Alongside the expansion, the shop is introducing a more interactive concept centered on creativity and community.

The new location will feature a dedicated craft café, where visitors can drop in at any time, purchase a project, and spend time making it on-site.

“We really hope it’ll be a third-space environment where people can come spend time with us,” owner Robin Kee said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “You can sit and have a drink, hang out with friends, and not have to go sit at a bar.”

Coastal House Vintage features works from over 20 various vendors and makers | photo provided

The shop blends curated secondhand and vintage pieces with handmade goods from local vendors, offering everything from home décor and ceramics to jewelry, candles, and personal care items.

The shop has built a following around its intentionally collected aesthetic, favoring items with character and history over mass-produced goods.

That mix will expand significantly in the new space, with more room for inventory, additional vendors, and for the first time, furniture.

The shop sells everything from frames to home decor and furniture | photo provided

The shop plans to host at least four to eight workshops each month, ranging from plant propagation classes and ceramics to embroidery and hands-on craft sessions.

Even outside of scheduled events, guests will be able to choose from a rotating menu of DIY projects and use the space freely.

A notable addition to the new location is Proppy, a plant and propagation-focused business that will occupy part of the space and host its own events, including plant bingo.

Other local vendors expected to be featured include A Bit of the Beach, known for its shell-based creations and popular phone case workshops; Hans Pots, a ceramic artist who leads paint-your-own pottery sessions; and Lizbeth Diaz Ceramics, whose handmade pieces are regularly stocked in the store.

Coastal House Vintage works with several vendor partners specializing in ceramics | photo provided

The expanded footprint also allows for outdoor programming.

The property includes a front yard that will be outfitted with seating and used for events, with plans to partner with food trucks and coffee carts.

The move comes less than two years after Coastal House first opened, and during a particularly challenging period in Kee’s personal life.

The original store launched in late September 2024, the same weekend Hurricane Helene struck the area.

Kee said her family lost their home in the storm, and she has been rebuilding while simultaneously growing the business.

“While walking one of the hardest seasons of my life, Coastal House became my haven, my therapy, and my joy,” she said.

The new shop will open Wednesday, April 29th at 2820 1st Avenue North | photo provided

Kee, who has a background in interior design, initially started Coastal House as a series of vintage resale pop-ups with a friend before opening the Gulfport storefront when a space next to her husband’s photography studio became available.

What began as a small, creative experiment quickly evolved into a retail shop and community hub with local makers and a regular slate of events.

With the move to St. Pete, she expects that growth to accelerate.

“We’ve seen great growth even in that location,” Kee said. “So we think moving to a more visible, accessible spot near other businesses will bring in even more visitors and shoppers.”

The Gulfport location at 919 49th Street South will close on Saturday, April 25, in preparation for its transition into a new space.

Coastal House Vintage’s new St. Petersburg store will initially open with a soft launch on April 29th, with a formal grand opening and ribbon cutting planned for later this summer.

The shop is expected to be open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.